Water markets | Murray–Darling Basin Authority (2024)

FAQs

Water markets | Murray–Darling Basin Authority? ›

Water in the Murray–Darling Basin can be bought and sold, either permanently or temporarily. This water is traded on markets – within catchments, between catchments (where possible) or along river systems. This form of trading allows water users to buy and sell water in response to their individual needs.

States own some water in the River Murray

Water flows into the Murray from tributaries in both New South Wales and Victoria. Water flowing into the Murray from rivers downstream of Albury, such as the Murrumbidgee and the Goulburn, is owned by the state the water flows through.

The Basin governments work together to restore the Basin's rivers and wetlands to health. The focus is also to support strong regional communities and sustainable food production into the future.

Climate and river health

Climate change is impacting on the health of the Basin, and scientists predict the Basin's climate is likely to become drier and more variable. So, in addition to more extreme droughts, there may also be more extreme floods and other events like bushfires and water quality issues predicted.

In short: The first water buybacks under the Albanese government have been agreed at a cost of $205 million for 26 gigalitres a year. Federal legislation last year removed a cap on the amount of water that can be purchased to meet environmental water targets across the Murray-Darling Basin.

Stakeholders and partners

industry (including agriculture), conservation, recreation and community groups. river operators. local governments. First Nations people.

In 1980, the High Court of Australia decided that New South Wales had jurisdiction over the Murray River where it flows along the Victoria-New South Wales border. Downstream of the New South Wales-South Australian border. it falls within the jurisdiction of South Australia.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority was established to manage the Basin as a connected system because not enough water was making its way through the system to fulfil the needs of users downstream, and because the Australian government recognised that communities and the environment need water as well as farmers and ...

We all benefit from a healthy environment. The Murray–Darling Basin is home to more than 2 million people and more than 50 First Nations. It supports 120 waterbird species and more than 50 native fish species. It contains internationally protected wetlands and trees that are hundreds of years old.

It sustains plants and animals, communities, and industries like agriculture and tourism. Water from the rivers of the Basin has transformed dry land into productive farmlands that contribute $30 billion to the Australian economy every year.

Where does the water in the Murray-Darling Basin come from? ›

Most of the rivers in the Murray–Darling Basin start in the Great Dividing Range. The Basin ends in South Australia where the Murray Mouth meets the Southern Ocean. The Basin is divided into 2 parts. Water in the northern Basin runs into the Darling River and water in the southern Basin runs into the River Murray.

The Murray–Darling Basin is in Australia's south-east. It is a system of interconnected rivers and lakes. More than 2.4 million people live in the Basin, including people from over 50 different First Nations.

The Basin is 3,375 kilometres (2,097 mi) in length, with the Murray River being 2,508 km (1,558 mi) long. Most of the 1,061,469 km² (409,835 sq mi) basin is flat, low-lying and far inland, and receives little direct rainfall.

The government has funded programs to promote river health and habitats on the Lower Murray in South Australia. These include the: South Australian Riverland Floodplains Integrated Infrastructure Program. Sustaining Riverland Environments.

Water use and irrigation technology Dairy farms in the Murray--Darling Basin use irrigation water to supplement rainfall to produce pasture and fodder crops. Irrigation allows farmers to have a more stable and productive supply of pasture than possible when relying on highly variable seasonal rainfall.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan sets limits on how much water can be used for irrigation, drinking water, industry to ensure the long-term health of the environment.

The State of Montana owns the waters within the state on behalf of its citizens. Citizens do not own the water, but can possess a legal right to use the water within state guidelines. By law, a recorded water right is required for the majority of water uses to be valid, legal, and defensible against other water users.

Waters of the state belong to the public and can't be owned by any individual or group. Instead, a person or group may be granted a right to use a volume of water, for a defined purpose, in a specific place.